Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-10-04
Washington Letter.

frelghted Wild news from Jefferson.
Some times it comes bringing us glad
tidings, and news of prosperity and
enterprises which make us feel that
there is life in the old land yet"
And then, to be a tru chronicler of
events and to give your patrons all
the news, sometimes the SPIRIT brings
us unwelcome tidings, new which
causes us to pause and exclaim, truly
=" we are fast passing away" Alas,
how many deaths you have ~chronicled
within the last year, and some of them
your oldest and best citizens; such
men as Capt. Cockrill, j. 81. Strider,
G. w. Spots, Isaac Fouke, n. Craig
hill, Thos. Webster, e. E. Rohrer,
B. Tomlinson, j. e. Cockrill, and
others whose names I cannot just re-
call, besides the good and noble wo-
men who have also +" crossed over the
river" And now as we glance over
your last edition our hearts are sad
dened as our eyes fall upon the an
nouncement of the deaths of Maj.
Jas. Law. Hooff and Mrs. Sarah A.
Leisenring. Truly the grim monster
has been abroad in your midst, and
we may well ask ourselves the cues
ton, "who next?"
Judge Thomas j. Semmes, of New
Orleans, it is said, is a candidate for
the vacancy on the Supreme bench,
and is in the city with some of his
friends, who are urging his appoint
ment. The judge is a fine looking
man, and has the reputation of being
one of the ablest lawyers in the South.
He is q brother of the late Admiral
Semmes. 1t is thought if appointed
he will fill the place very acceptably.,
The President started on his tour
through the West and South, via
Pennsylvania railroad, at 10 A. NJ,
Sept. Both. and made his first stop at
Indianapolis, Ind. No stops will be
made during his trip except at the
points put down in his programme for
the journey, and in no instance, he
| states, can the time allotted to each
city be extended. All the reception
committees have been requested to
meet the President at their respective
cities instead of enToute. The much
speech making which vas proposed
has been abandoned, and instead will
be carriage rides about the cities,
which will crafty his desire to see the
towns and population and enable all
to see the President. The party con-
sists of Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland, Col.
Lamont, Mr.. w. S. Bessell, of Buff
falo, and DR.. Jos. D.. Bryant, of New
York. The President will pay his
own expenses. The train consists of
a vestibule car, a sleeper and MI.
Puliman's private car.
The centre of attraction now is the
show window of one of our enter
prising merchants on Seventh st. In
the window is an exact imitation of
the U. S. capitol. To make it, we are
informed, required 2,340 yards of
lace, 250 yards of rucEing and H.
900 pins. At night the electric light
in the dome is lighted and the effect
is very beautiful. 1t is we'll worth
seeing. and any of your good people
who may chance to be in the city dur
ing the next week or two; would be
amply repaid for taking a look at it.
The meeting of the American sec
ton of the Evangelical Alliance which
is to be held at the Congregational
Church, in this city, On the 7th, 9Th
and 9th of December, will be, it is
expected, the largest religious gather
ing ever held in Washington, both in
size and Importance. The Alliance
is a representative body of christians
of all evangelical denominations who
cooperate in religious work. 1t in
cludes the whole world, and has al
ready held several important meet
ings in the great cities. The Amer
lean section was organized in. the
month of January, 1867.
The excursion from Richmond, Va,
this week, contained nearly a dozen
tage of the District marriage fec of
sl.OO. The Virginia fee it seems is
$500, and the excursion rate is only
two dollars. SO you see these young
people can take a trip to the capital
and get married at what would be
the cost for q license at home.
Large crowds attend nightly the re-
vivaI services now in progress at the
NJ. +. Church, on Dunbarton street.
lNCH. Cilu. ICl4dII HAS DCCu uOlIS GHC
preaching.
Wednesday last was the day for
the regetta on the Potomac, and Il
more disagreeab!e day could not have
been chosen, as it rained incessantly.
However, in the presense of about
only 200 people, the race came off,
resulting in a victory for the Potomac
boat club.
To give your readers an idea of
what it costs to run the public schools
of the District, 1 see by II of our
city papers that the trustees estimate
that they want over $1,000, 900 for
the ensuing scholastic year.
The grand reception to-be given
Gov. Shepherd will take place next
Thursday night, and will be on a
magnificent scale.
Civil Service Commissioner Oberly
decides that federal employees AN
not belong to State associations, and
has thrown a very large bomb into
camp. 1t is not thought, however,
that Mr.. Oberly Sc knows it ALL and
steps are to be Immediately taken to
secure Allan G. Thurman and j. Ran
dolph Tucker as counsel, who will
proceed at once to define the legality
of the associations and their position
in regard to the civil service law. If